But first – since this is Christmas Month – how about a list? Here are my favorite Christmas movies where Christmas is in the background but nowhere near the point of the film. Please to enjoy. [Read on here…]

10. Child’s Play – Chucky’s origin film – and he started out as an Xmas present!

9. The Ref – Denis Leary first showed signs of nice acting chops in this pitch-black comedy about a thief forced to take a pre-divorce couple hostage (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) that he ends up playing marriage counselor to.

8. Trading Places – Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis (flashing some partial frontal nudity) in a John Landis film that’s just as good as his other classics Blues Brothers and American Werewolf. This guy really is a master of his craft.

7. Long Kiss Goodnight – The first appearance of good ol’ Shane Black and his fetish for all things Yule on my list – keep looking for more. Geena Davis plays a sleeping sleeper agent who wakes up and attempts to complete an old mission while wrestling with her newfound persona and failing miserably. A great little film that sadly hasn’t been aging so well.

6. Gremlins – Love this film. If you haven’t seen it, do it.

5. Batman Returns – this is still my favorite of the Batman movies – all of them. It just gets everything right.

4. The Thin Man – This is an incredible classic film (and film series) that everyone should know more about. Track these films down. An old school detective yarn with a comedic twist, originally from the pen of Dashiell Hammett with William Powell and Myrna Low as Nick and Nora Charles – a married couple with acid tongues, livers of steel and a dog named Asta.

3. Lethal Weapon – More Shane Black. A wonderful action buddy comedy that, regardless of your present day feelings about Mel Gibson, is actually as good today as it was in the 80s.

2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – What? Another Shane Black title – this one directed by him too? Damn, this guy loves Christmas. If you know nothing about this little whodunit, good. Check it out right now and love it as much as me.

1. Die Hard – Still a great movie – I don’t care about the genre. I watch this whenever I can.

Ho Ho Ho – more lists next week. You’ve been warned.

Okay, so watch this – this is going to hurt...

Guardians of the Galaxy – One of the best Marvel films ever – and without a single major character from their Universe. I’ve been a Rocket Raccoon fan since his first appearance and I hate Gunn that much more for being able to make a movie with him. Not that I’m a Hollywood power player, but a guy can dream, right?

Frank – I know nothing about this and it just looks weird. A guy with a Moral Orel head mask joins a band. That’s all I know. Stars Michael Fassbender as the guy in the mask.

Dead Snow 2: Dead Vs. Red – The Nazi zombies are back – this time fighting Soviet zombies. Is it good? I have no idea. Probably okay to watch. I’ll know tonight.

Criterion Releases: Time Bandits reissue – cool lenticular cover Criterion, I’m in. Safe – A weird social commentary flick starring Julianne Moore and directed by Todd Haynes. Night Porter reissue – Dirk Bogarde stars as a former Nazi who bumps into Charlotte Rampling who was a former concentration camp prisoner under his control and something of a lover in the form of an odd S&M relationship they had. When the two meet several years after they start up their relationship.

And there you go. For my money – Guardians is the only must have release of the week, but Time Bandits ain’t too shabby. But that’s pretty much it. Suuuuuuucks. Though, it makes it easily for me to shop for friends instead of myself this week, so I guess – thank you Hollywood.

I’m still full from Thanksgiving, boy howdy. My Mom cooks up a mean Turkey.

Welcome to the last month of 2014. Christmas is coming fast, and with it a new year. Jeez, this year swam on by. I guess the older you get, the quicker time progresses. I remember being a kid and feeling like it took forever to get through a year. Now, it seems like yesterday I was at Comic-Con. Oh well. Enough about that – let’s look at another light week. But one filled with one major, huge thing that I want – for no good reason. [Read on here…]

Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection – 200 bucks for another release of Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut seems a bit much, but maybe not. This set includes a new 78 page hardcover of archival images and two new documentaries: Kubrick Remembered and Stanley Kubrick in Focus, as well as the three previous documentaries from previous releases: Once Upon a Time… A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, and O Lucky Malcolm! You should be able to find this floating in the 140 dollar range online, so it’s not too bad for a collection of eight definitive masterpieces.

As Above/So Below – A young alchemist searches for the philosopher’s stone in the Paris (France) catacombs with a team of friends and guides only to find ... something else. I guess. Looks too claustrophobic for me. Apparently this was shot on location inside the Paris catacombs – so, if you’ve ever been curious to see them but never wanted to go yourself; here’s your chance.

The Congress – Ari Folman, who gave us Waltz with Bashir, brings us this live-action/animation hybrid focusing on Robin Wright (or a version of her) who sells the rights to her image with the caveat that she never act again – her scan to replace all future acting endeavors. This kicks off a whole level of super cool, twisty sci-fi head scratching – all worth the trip. Based on this and Bashir, I for one, look forward to Folman’s threat of making Jodorowsky’s vision of Dune come to life.

Kite – A live action adaptation of a hella-violent anime. It’s about a young teenaged super assassin girl (of course it is). I haven’t seen this iteration, but it looks interesting. It’s probably not though.

The Hundred Foot Journey – Lasse Hallström directs and Helen Mirren stars in this story about two feuding restaurants in London. But I bet you it has more to do about the perceived divide between cultures and generations. Can all differences be set aside when you realize that passion can cross that difference? I’m guessing with EPs Spielberg and Oprah the answer is yes.

Broad City: Season 1 – This is a quirky and weird comedy series that has grown on me. It’s about these two hipster girls living in New York, and damnit, it’s really funny. It’s also crass as hell. But it’s funny. The new season comes to Comedy Central in January.

Devilman: The Complete TV Series – I’m super excited by this and had no idea it was coming out until I put this list together. Bill? [Editor’s Note: Wow, I had no idea it was coming out either.]

Justified: Season 5 – Some say this is one of the best shows on TV, but really, it’s only because it’s about two of the best characters on TV – the show itself has been kinda hit or miss. The show ends this next season and that’s a bummer.